Liquid storage and delivery apparatus



1. M. MILLER.- LIQUID STORAGE AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

I APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6. 191 8- Patented June 24, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET I FIE-L13.

J. M. MILLER. LIQUID STORAGE AND DELIVERY APPARATUS. APRLICATION FILED SEPT. e. 1918.

1 ,307,829. Patented June 24, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I. M. MILLER. LIQUID STORAGE AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, I9I8- Patented June 24, 1919..

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J M MILLER LIQUID STORAGE AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT.6.1918- I 1 307,829. Patented June 24, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W -NWDE WITNESSES I STATES PATENT orrrcn.

JoHN M. ivrILtEn, or snwIcKLEY, PE NSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR '10 HEPBURN WALKER,

- or SEWICKLEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIQUID STORAGE AND DELIVERY APPAnA'rUs.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 24, 1919.

Application filedsepteniber 6, 1918. Serial No. 252,855.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. lVLILLEn, re-

siding at Sewickley, in the county of. Al-' legheny' and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid Storage and Delivery Apparatus, of which improvements the follow- My invention relates to liquid storage and delivery apparatus of the general type wherein a liquid is stored in a reservoir, and, before being sold, is caused to flow into a measuring tank from which all, or any de-' sired portion, may be withdrawn, the measuring tank being preferably so constructed that thepurchaser may see the amount of liquid sold to him.

While unlimited to apparatus for vending any specific kind of liquid, my invention is particularly applicable to the yending of gasolene, and in the following description will be explained in its adaptability to suclruse. The general object of my lnventio-n is to provide an apparatus for the purpose described which may be easily operated to quickly and accurately measure liquid, and

which will be practical and simple in. construction to the end that it may be manufactured at a low cost commensurate with its operating advantages. The seyeralyres'ults contributing to the attainment of the afore stated object will appear in thesubsequent description of my invention.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings A I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention. Figural is an elevation of the reservoir and measuring apparatus .and the variouscondu-its connectingthem;

Fig. 2 a side view of the upper portion of the measuring apparatus, the outer casing being removed to show so-mel of the operatmg mechanism; Fig. 3 a detail sectional view taken on the line III-J11, Fig. 2, showing one position of a valve and its controlling means; Fig. 4 a view similar to Fig. 3 showing another position of the same valve and its controlling means; Fig. 5 a

side view of the measuring apparatus as indicated in Fig.2, the plane of view belng indicated by the line V-Y, Fig. 2; Fig. 6

-a sectional view taken on the line VIVI,

Fig. 2; Fig. 7 a detail sectional view to enlarged scale, taken on the line VIIV-II, Fig. 2. Fig. 8 a detail sectional View to still larger scale, taken on the line VIIIVIII, Fig. 7 Fig. 9 a series of views showing several successive positions of one of the operating cams of the measuring apparatus; Fig. 10 a view similar to Fig. 9 showing correspending positions of two other operating with reference to gage markingson such conduit.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the gasolene 1s stored in an underground storage reservoir 1, and, before being delivered, is conducted 'to a measuring tank 2, the side wall of which tank is preferably constructed of a transparent clear material such as glass. In apparatus of the character contemplated herein, the flow of liquid from the storage reservoir to the measuring tank may be induced by a vacuum or may be'eifected by applying pressure in excess of atmospheric to the liquid in the storage reservoir. The apparatus shown herein contemplates the .last mentioned operation, and to such end there is provided an auxiliary storage reservoir 3 connected to the reservoir 1 by conduit 4' provided with a check valve 5, the arrangement being such that gasolene may flow by gravityfrom the reservoir 1 to the reservoir 3, and may not be forced by fluid pressure from the latter to the former. A

filling conduit 6 extends from the auxiliary reservoir 3 to the -measuring tank 2, such conduit being preferably provided with a check valve 7 (Figs. 5 and 6) permitting flow only from the auxiliaryreservoir to the measuring tank, and a fluid pressure conduit 8 leads to the top of the reservoir 3. While various fluids underpressure may be used to cause the gasolene to flow into the measuring tank, l' preferably use compressed air. 4

The first feature of my invention which I will describe is the means for controlling the filling of the measuring tank. Instrumentalities are provided to the end that pressure may be generated in the measuring tank after it has been filled with a desired amount of liquid, and that such pressure may beutilized to cut oif the flow of compressed air to the storage reservoir. In the illustrative embodiment of this feature ofmy invention, referring particularly to Figs. 2 to 6, in-' clusive, an air pressure supply pipe 9 is connected to a valve casing 10, and the flow of air from the pipe 9 to the conduit 8 is con trolled by a reciprocating valve 11. The-- position of this valve, when permitting flow I from the supply pipe 9 through the conduit upper. end of the measuring tank 2 at the proper level to fill the tank with a unit volume of liquid, which in'the case of gasolene may be five gallons.

The measuring tank is closed against the discharge of air therefrom, except through a vent pipe 15, which is preferably arranged within the filling extension .14 and terminates above the top of such extension. The

lower end of the ventpipe is connected to.

the upper end of the casing 10 surrounding the valve 11, such casing having a vent opening 95. .The upper end of the vent pipe is closed and is provided with side inlets 16 adapted to be closed by a valve 17 secured to the central portion of a float 18. As indicated in Fig. 6, a collar 19 is secured to,

the float and is slidably mounted upon the upper end of the vent pipe. '11. is to such collar that the valve 17 is attached.

In the operation of the construction thus far described the gasolene may, under the pressure of the air within the auxiliary reserv'oir3, readily flow through the conduit 6,

passageway 13 and filling conduit extension- 14intothe measuringtank2 until such tank is filledslightly above the level of the upper end of theextension 14, the air within the measuring tank escaping through the vent pipe 15. As the liquid'rises farther above I the upper level of the extension 14, the float 18, riding on the top of the liquid, causes the valve 17 to close the side inlet 16 of the vent pipe, with the result that the further flow of liquid into the measuring tank causes the air entrapped therein tobe placed under pressure.

The pressure thus'generated is utilized to move the valve 11 to its position indicated in Fig. 3, whereby air is cut off from the auxiliary reservoir 3. For such purpose the upper end of the measuring tank 2 is preferably provided with a flexible diaphragm 20, above whichihere is arranged a rod 21, pivoted at one end of the inner face of the cover 98 of the measuring tank, and having its other end extending through a slot 22 formed in such cover in a position opposite to the pivoted end 'of the rod. Bet-ween its ends the rod 21 rests upon the central portion of the diaphragm 20, and the outer end of the rod is pivotally secured to the upper end of a link 23, the lower end of which engages a lever 24,.to which lever the valve 11 is attached, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. Thus the Valve 11, which, during the filling operation, is in the position indicated in Fig. 4, will be raised'to the position indicated in Fig.3, namely that of cutting oil? the flow of air through the conduit 8. It

will be seen that this raising of the valve 11 is effected by the upward movement of the flexible diaphragm 20, which movement raises the outer end of the rod 22 and hence lifts the 23 and the valve 11.

While various means may be used for moving the valve from its position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 4, such movement is preferablycoordinated with the movement of a=valve 25 which controls the flow of gasolene in a manner presently to be described. For this purpose there is attached to one end of the valve 25 a disk cam 26 provided with a depression 27. The lever 24, which is adjacent to the cam 26 and extends perpendicular to its axis of rotation, is rovided with a projection 37 adapted to slide upon the periphery of, the cam, a suitable spring 28 being providedto hold the projection 37 against the cam.

In the neutral position of the valve 25, that is to say in the positio'n in which the valve stands when the apparatus is notbeing used, the projection 37 of the lever 24 isat the ed e of the depression 27,,as shown in Fig. 3. pon the initial rotation of the valve to bring the apparatus to what may be designated as the position of filling the measuring tank, the depression 27 of the cam 26 is-brought beneath the projection 37 of the lever 24 and the spring 28 moves such lever, and consequently the valve 11, downwardly to the position indicated in Fig. 4.

times be desirable-to shut off the air from the reservoir 3 before the tank 2has been supplied with the usual unit volume of gasolene. This may be done by manually raising the link 23, or a specialgbell-crankmanually operable lever 29, 30 may be provided, the arm 30 being adapted to engage the outer end' of the lever 24. To the end that the valve 11 may then be held in the position indicated in Fig.3, the lever 24 is provided with a locking pawl 31 adapted normally tosuspend from the lever 24 in the position in- During the filling operation it may some- Ydica'te'd in Fi 3"-1nj;'s 1i'i pbsaibn' iiiis f, 'P rests P n' e1r nie ry;o a'd k "attached to the end of the valve25 adjacent kick laterally'the' pawl"31 tfthe position to the 'cain26 will be undefit od. that the'rotation of the- 'valve to bring, the'cam 26 tothe position'of.Fi g.-4 will move or indicated in such figure so that the projection 37 of the lever 24 may move into the recess 27.

The next feature of my invention which I will explain is the means for discharging from the measuring tank the liquid caused to flow into it in the manner explained above. It will be understood that, while gasolene is usually sold in five gallon multiples, it occasionally happens that a purchaser desires a quantity which will be other thanv a multiple of five gallons, and that accordingly the entire five gallons in the measuring tank 2 will not be discharged through the delivery conduit. Means are provided to return to the storage reservoir this remaining volume of gasolene, and

means are also provided to return to' such reservoir the volume of liquid caused to flow into the measuring tank in excess of the unit volume.

In. the illustrative embodiment of this feature of my invention, a single valve 25 having a single port 32 is provided to control the flow of all the gasolene from the measuring tank. The casing 12, to which reference has already been made,-forms the bottom of the measuring tank, and also forms a casing for the valve 25. As indicated particularly in Fig. 6, the casing is provided with a valve port 33 communicating with the filling conduit extension 14; a port 34 communicating with the bottom of the measuring tank, a port 35 leading to a delivery conduit 36, and a port 38 leading to a return measuring receptacle 39, the purpose of which will be presently explained. Flow throughall of these ports is controlled by the valve 25. The bottom of the measuring receptacle 39 is connected to a conduit 40 which leads to the main storage reservoir 1.

The several positions of .the valve 25 to bring its port 32 intocommunication with the several ports of the valve casing 12 to permit the flow of the gasolene from the measuring tank, may be indicated, as. first.

the leveling position in which the ga solene after the delivery of a portion of a unit volume is returned to the storage reservoir. These several positions of the valve 25 are indicatedi in three positions: shown in 11, and a refth ere designated as Leveling, ff Deliveryand, Return 7 r;

In the operation, of therapparatus, the valvef25 is rotated through a-c'oniplet'e cycle in a clockwise,- direction asvlewed 11,1, and

indicated by the arrowon the leftL-end of,

Fig. 11. i The two positions of the valve at the left end of Figill, namely, those indi cated as neutral andfifil'ling positions have to do with. features of construction and operation of. my apparatus which will presently be described.- V

In the leveling position of. the valve, as shown in Fig. 11 the port 32 places the valve casing ports 33. and 38 in communication with each other, so. that the excess volume of gasolenernamely that above the top of the filling conduit extension 1i, may flow downwardly through such extension into the return measuring receptacle 39, and from thence through the return conduit 40 to the main storage reservoir 1. 1 I

In the delivery position of the. valve, the port 32 affords communication between the casing ports 3-tand 35 so that gasolene may flow from the bottom of the measuring tank through the delivery conduit .36.

In the return position of the valve, the

port 32 affords communication between the casing ports 34 and 38 so that the gasolene remaining in the measuring tank may flow into the return measuring receptacle 39.

Finally, the valve 25 may be turned to the I neutral position indicated at the left end of I Fig. 11, in which all of the casing ports are closed. i

My'invention also contemplates measuring and registering the volume of gasoleiie discharged through the delivery conduit ;36. Preferably the volume; ofgasolciie so discharged is registered after all ofthe gasolene has been removed from themeasuring= tank. To such end .the-gasolen'e flowing into the receptacle 39 during;theretur i position of the valve 25 is retained insuch receptacle. and float actuated means are provided to control theadvance of theiregister ii'i ii'i-'-" verse proportion-to the volume of gasolene in the .et1i1i'i receptacle, at the end of each operation. 2 .i

In the illustrative embodiment. of this feature of my invention, having reference particularly to Figs.-2, 5 andait there is provided a-register 41, adapted to x be, advanced by means of the rotation of a shaft 42, which shaftfhas a well knowirclutch connection to the registering apparatus to the end that the register may not be turned baekwardly by a reverse rotation of such shaft. -A s seen in Fig. 2, the end of the shaft 42 is provided with a bevel pinion 43 which meshes with a bevel pinion' 44 secured to one end of a stub shaft 45, to the other end of which shaft there is attached a pinion 46, meshing with a rack 47. The

rack 47 is pivoted as at 48, and it will be seen th'at,'in proportion to the extent of 'movement otth-erack, the registerwill be advanced by means oft-he shaft and pinion connections justdescribed.

, The movement of the rack is efi'ected by instrumentalities which will presently be explained, Its range of movement at any given time is preferably controlled by a cycloidal disk or cam 49,.secured to a shaft 50, there-being a laterally projecting pin 51 secured to the lower end of the rack and adapted to strike the upper face or periphcry of the cam 49. To the shaft there is also attached a pinion 51 which meshes with a pinion 52 secured to a shaft 53, which shaft extends through the wall of the return measuring-"receptacle 39, and which, within such receptacle, has a sprocket wheel 54 attached to it. Over this sprocket there extends a sprocket chain 55 attached at its opposite ends to the top and bottom of a float 56. Thus, sition of the float 56 within the receptacle 39, the cam 49 will be turned to various positions to limit the extent of movement of the rack 47, and hence limit or determine the advance of the registering apparatus 41.

While various means may be provided to rotate the register-moving member, namely the rack 47, such movement is preferably effected by, and coiiordinated with, the rotation of the valve 25. The connections which I preferably provide for this purpose include a pair of cams 57 and 58 secured to the outer end of the valve 25, and a pair of yielding] -interconnected pivoted fingers 59 and 60 adapted to be moved by the cam 57,

and in turn to move the rack member 47.

Referring particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, the finger 59 is rotatably mounted on a stud 61, and is held in position upon such stud by means of a screw 62. The finger 60 is in turn mounted for a limited amount of rotation upon the sleeve portion of the finger 59, and a coil spring 63 is arranged between such fingers. As seen in Fig. 8, one end of the spring 63 is attached to the sleeve portion ofthefinger 60, and at the other end of such spring projects through elongated slots 64 in the edge of the sleeve portion of the finger 60 and through small slots or keyways 65 in the edge of the sleeve portion of the finger 59. The arrangement is such that the movement of the finger 59 in a direction radially to the valve 25 will cause finger 60 to yieldingly move in the opposite direction. The lower end of the finger 60 is provided with a slot 66 adapted to receive a finger 67 secured to the rack member 47. a suitable spring 68 being provided to hold such finger against they left side or wall of the slot 66.

depending upon the vertical po- The cam 57 is cylindrical except for a projection 69 which engages and moves outwardly the finger 59, and the cam 58 is also cylindrical except for a depression 70. N ormally the outermost face of the cam 58 bears against the finger 60, and through the can nection just described holds the finger 59 firmly against the face of the cam 57 so that no movement of the rack may. take place. When the projection 69 of the cam 57 comes to the position in which itv moves the finger 59 outwardly, the recess 70 of the cam 58 is in position to permit finger 60 to move toward the axis of the valve 25, and hence to move the rack 47 downwardly.

Before explaining the complete operation of the measuring I will describe the means which I provide for controlling the flow of gasolene from the receptacle 39. Through the wall of such receptacle there is an opening 71 placing such receptacle in communication with a valve casing 72 provided with a valve seat 73. A reciprocating springpressed valve 74 controls the flow of gasolene through the port and to the return conduit 40. A rod 75 isattached at its lower end to the valve 74 and at its upper end to a pivoted lever 76, having a finger 77 adapted to bear on the face of a cam 78, secured to valve 25. This camcontrols, in the manner presently to be explained, the open and closed positions of the valve 74.

In Figs. 9 and 10 there are shown the several successive positions of the cams 57, 58 and 78, corresponding to the several posit-ions of the valve indicated in Fig. 11. In the neutral position of the valve 25 the lever 76 is held in its upward position to maintain open the valve 74, while the finger 60 is by means ofthe cam 58 held locked to prevent movement of the rack 47. The same considerations apply to the cams 57, 58 and 78 in their several positions effected by r0-- filling,

immediately from such receptacle through the return conduit 40 to the main storage reservoir 1. It should be observed here that the elevation of the passageway 71 through the wall of the receptacle 39 is such that sufiicient gasolene is always trapped in the bottom of the receptacle to hold the float in floating position.

As the valve 25 is turned to return position, and before it reaches the latter position the cam 78 (see Fig.9) moves to a position'to permit the lever 78 to be moved downwardly to permit the valve 74 to close. Thus, before the port 32 of valve 25 afi'ords communication between the ports 34 and '38 of the valve casing 12, the valve from delivery is all retained in the return measuring receptacle.

As already stated, the position of the float 56 in the receptacle 39 determines the position of the register-controlling cam 49. After all the remaining gasolene has been discharged from the measuring tank 2 into the receptacle39, the valve 25 is turned to its neutral position indicated at the left of Fig. -11. In turning to such position, the

projection 69 of cam 57 moves the. finger 59 outwardly and such finger in turn moves the finger 60. The movement of the latter finger causes the rack 47 to move forwardly to advance the register 41 until the pin '51 strikes the face of the cam 49. The further outward movement of the finger 59 is takenup by the spring 63, and accordingly causes no movement of the rack 47 by the finger 360. The positions, of the fingers 59 and 60 while the valve 25 is being turned from its return to its neutral position are indicated in Fig.'12, in which the finger 59 is shown resting upon the tip of the projection 69 of cam 5 In apparatus of the character contemplated herein it occasionally happens that a portion of the gasolene flowingv fromthe measuring tank remains in the delivery conduit 36, the outer end ofwhich is usually flexible. To overcome this difliculty, I connect to the delivery conduit 36 an upwardly extending vent pipe 80 provided with a check valve 81, which prevents flow outwardly through the vent pipe, but permits flow inwardly thereof. Thus the delivery conduit may be properly drained at the end ---of each operation .of the apparatus.

9 A further feature of my invention has to.

'dowith the accurate determination by thev eye of an operator, of the amount of gasolene discharged fromthemeasuring tank when ..s'uch' amount is less than the unit volume taken, into the tank. Such. discharged volume has heretofore been {determined bygage' marking either on the wall of the transparent measuring tank or upon 7 a vertical gage within said measuringtank.

.It will be readily understood that inaccuracies may occur in such readings due to the capillarity of the liquid. I have discovered that such i-naccuracies naybe eliminated by illuminating the interior of the measuring tank and simultaneously observing the gage markings directly and their reflections upon'the surface of the gasolene.

WVhile various means may be provided for illuminating the interior of the tank to the end that the above explained reflection vmay be observed, I preferably secure to the side of the measuringtank a vertically disposed support 82, to which there are attached -a plurality of incandescent lamps 83 backed ingoperatiomthe valve 25 is in its neutral position mdicated in Fig. 11 and the cams "this is efiectedby turning an arm 92 selet 16 of the vent pipe 15, so that the further diagrammatically represents the manner of observing the precise level of the gasolene as the surface thereof descends during the discharge of the gasolene from the measuring tank. When the level of the liquid is at the dash line 87 the eye 88 of an observer below the surface of the liquid will see directly. along the line 89 the point of the gage marking and indirectly the reflection of this point upon the surface 87 of the gasolene is observed along the line 90 and appears to be on the conduit.14, as indicated in dotted lines. As the level of the liquid descends the angle between the lines 89 and 90 decreases until they coincide, and the point of the reflectionotthegage-marking meets the directly observed point of such marking. It is at such coincidence of the line that the level of the liquid,-indicated by the dash line 87 is precisely at the point of the gage marking.

The further structural and operating features of the apparatus will be explained in connection with the following description of its operation. Before commencing a vend- 57, 58 and 7 8 secured to the valve are in the positions indicated in Figs. 9 and 10, directly above the neutral position of the valve. Also the cam 26 is in the position shown in Fig. 3. In such position of the parts named, the valve 25 closes all of the ports in the casing.12, the valve 74 (Fig. 6) is open, and the valve 11 is in the position indicated in Fig: 3 in which the'supply of compressed air from the pipe 9 is entirely cutoif.

The first step in the operation is the rotation of the valve 25 to filling position, and

cured -to the end of the valve. The only change in the operating positions of the apar-atus efiected by rotating the valve to filling position is the lowering of the valve 11 to the position indicated in Fig. 4, in which compressed air may flow fromtlie supply pipe 9 through the conduit 8 tothe auxiliary storage reservoir 3, whereby gm lene is expelled from such reservoir thrcugi' the filling conduit 6 and its.extension,14"intoi the measuring tank 2. When the level of gasolene within thetank 2 rises to the upper end of the extension 14, the float 18' rises andcauses the valve 17 to close the side inflow of gasolene into the measuring tank increases the pressure-of the air entralgwd in the top of such' tank and causes the emble diaphragm 20 tor move upwardly. This movement of the flexible diaphra raises the lever 21 and hence the link 23, with the result that the valve 11 is brought to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3, cutting ofi the supply of'compressed-air to the reservoir 3.

- The next step in the operation is eifected by turning the valve 25 to leveling position, in which the port 32 of such valve places the casing ports 33 and 38 in communication vwith eachother so that the gasolene above the level of the top of'the extension 14 may flow into the return measuring receptacle 39.

from thence to the main storage reservoir 1.

In the next step of the operation the valve 25 is turned to delivery position in which its port 32 places the casing ports 34 and 35 in communication with 'each other so that, the

gasolene may flow .from the bottom of the measuring tank through the delivery con- 'duit 36. In moving the valve 25 from the neutral position through the filling and leveling position to the delivery position the ,be .efl'ected and contro ,various cams attached to the valve do not efi'ect anychange in the positions of the parts which they control, as is clearly shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In .case it is desirable to remove the gasolene from the measuring tank 2 more rapidly than it naturally flows therefrom under the force of gravity, the

valve 11 maybe raised above theposition indicated in Fig. 3 s'o-that compressed air may flow from the supply pipe 9 through the vent pipe 15 into the/top of the measuring tank. Thismovement of the valve 11 may lled manually by turning the hand lever 29.

In case the full five gallons are discharged from the measuring tank the next step in the operation is effected by turning the valve 25 from delivery to neutral position, paxing through return position, and in such move ment of the valve the cam 57'causes, and the cam' '58 permits, the movement of the fingers 59 and 60, whereby the rack 47 is moved downwardly until the pin 51 strikes the cam 49 at the point where its face is the shortest radial distance from its axis of rotat-ion, thereby registering five gallons. In

Fig. 5 the cam 49'is indicated in the posi-.

tion for permitting the rack 47 to move downwardly to eiiect such five gallon advance of the register '41..

' charged from the measuringtank, the valve 25 is turned from delivery to return position, inwhich its port 32 places the casing ports 34 and 38 in communication with each other. thus moving: to return position,

.In case the full five gallons are not disthe valve 25 causes the cam 78'(Fig. 9) to move to a position wherein the lever 76 drops-downwardly and permits the springpressed valve-74 to close the'port 73 leading from the receptacle 39. Thus the gasolene flowing into the receptacle 39 during the return position of the valve causes the float 56 to rise, and, in proportion to the elevation of'th float, 'the cam 49 is .ro.tated so that gradua ly. it presents to the pin 51 of rack 47 a stop face of increased radial distance from the axis of rotation of the cam. 'After all the remainingliquid has been discharged into the receptacle 39, the valve 25 is turned to neutral position, and, during such turn-. ing, the register is first caused to advance in inverse proportion to the volume of asolene in the return receptacle, which will of course register the amount of gasolene discharged through the delivery conduit, after the registerhas thus advanced, and during the movement of the valve to neutral position, the cam 78 causes the valve to open so that the gasolene in the receptacle 39 may flow to the storage reservoir 1.

According to the provisions-of the patent statutes, I have described the principle and operation of .my. invention, together with the apparatus which I now. consider to represent the best embodiment thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that,

within the scope of the appended claims, my

invention'may'be practised with'other forms of apparatus than that specifically shown and described herein.

1" claim as my invention: 1. In a liquid storage and delivery apparatus, the combination of a storage reservoir, a measuring tank, a filling conduit connecting said reservoir with said tank, a delivery conduit leading from said tank, a return conduit leading from said tank to said reservoir, mea-ns for controlling the flow of liquid from said reservoir to said tank and from the tank through the delivery and return conduits, and means coiirdinated with the movement of said flow-controlling means for registering subsequent to the discharge of the liquid from the measuring tank such "portion of the volume of the liquid from the measuring tank as may be discharged through said delivery pipe.

2. In a liquid storage and deliveryapparatus, the combination of a storage reservoir, a measuring tank, afilling conduit connecting said reservoir with said tank. a delivery conduit leading from, said tank,'a return conduit leading from said tank to said reservoir, means for filling said tank with a unit volume of liquid at each filling operation,

' means forcontrollingthe flow of liquid from said reservoir to said tank and from the tank through the delivery and return conduits, and means coiirdinated with the movement of said flow-controlling means for reg istering subsequent to the discharge of the unit volume of liquid from the measuring tank such portion of the unit volume as may tank and from the tank through the delivery and return conduits, a registering apparatus,

7 and-means including a float in said receptacle for controlling and determining the advance of said register-for each operation of filling and emptying said measuring tank whereby there is registered only the volume of liquid discharged through said delivery conduit.

4. In a, liquid storage and delivery apparatus, the combination of a storage reservoir,

a measuring tank, a filling conduit connecting said reservoir with said tank, a delivery conduit leading from said tank, a return conduit leading from said tank to said reservoir, said return conduit including a return measuring receptacle, means for filling said tank with a unit volume of liquid at each filling operation, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid from said tank through said delivery and return conduits, a registering apparatus, a movable member actuated by the movement of said valve for advancing said registering apparatus, a cam for controlling the extent of movement of said movable member, and means for moving said cam in proportion to the amount of liquid in said return receptacle.

5, In a liquid storage and delivery apparatus, the'combination of a storage reservoir, a measuring tank, a delivery conduit leading from said tank, filling and return conduits connecting said reservoir with said tank,

, said return conduit including a return measuring receptacle, means for filling said tank with a unit volume of'liqnid, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid from said tank through said delivery and return conduits, a registering apparatus, a movable member actuated by the movement of said valve for advancing said registering apparatus, a cam for controlling the extent of movement of said movable member, a float in said return measuring receptacle, and means actuated by said float for moving said cam in proportion to the amount of liquid in said return receptacle.

6. In a liquid storage and delivery apparatus, the combination of a storage reservoir,

a measuring tank, a,- delivery' conduit leading from said tank, a. return conduit leading from said. tank to sa1d reservoir, means for fillin said tank with a unit volume of e I I 11 uid means for CODtIOllID the flow of a o a r b portion of said unit volume through said deliver conduit and thereafter the remainin portion through said return conduit, a registering apparatus, and means operable after a said unit volume has been entirely discharged from said tank for advancing sald registering apparatus in proportion to the portion of the unit volume discharged through the delivery conduit.

7. In a liquid storage and delivery apparatus, the combination ofa storage reservoir, a measuring tank, a filling conduit connecting said reservoirwith said tank, a deliveryconduit leading from said tank, a return conduit leading from said tank to said reservoir, and a single valve communicating with the upper and lower portions of said tank and with said discharge and return conduits, sald valve controlling the flow of liquid successively, first, from the upper portion of said tank through the return conduit, secondly, from the lower portion of said tank through said delivery conduit, and

v finally, from the lower portion of said tank through said return conduit.

8. In a liquid storage and delivery apparatus, the combination of a storage reservoir, a measuring tank, a filling conduit connecting said reservoir with said tank, a valve casing, a delivery conduit leading from said casing, a return conduit connecting said casing with said reservoir, said valve casing belng provided with ports communicating one with the upper and another with the lower portions of said tank. and a rotary valve in said casing provided with a single passage and adapted upon its rotation to, first,-plaee said return conduit in communication with said port leading to the top of the. tank. secondly. to place said discharge conduit in communication with said port leading from tl1e' botto111 of the tank, and

thirdly. to place said return conduit in communication with said last mentioned port.

. 9. In a liquid storage and delivery apparatus. the combination of a storage reservoir, a measuring tank, a filling conduit connecting said reservoir with said tank, and pres sure means for causing the liquid in the storage reservoir to flowinto the measuring tank, and means controlled by pressure generated in the measuring tank by the flow of liquid therein for rendering ineifective said pressure means. i

10. In a liquid storage and delivery apparatus, the combination of a storage reservoir, a closed measuring tank, a filling conduit connecting said reservoir'with said tank, a fluid pressure conduit connected to said reservoir whereby fluid pressure may be rendered available to cause liquid to flow from said reservoir into said tank, a valve in said fluid pressure conduit,"avent pipe leading from the top portion of said tank, means controlled by the flow of liquid into said tank to close said Vent pipe, and means rendered operative by the increased pressure in said tank dueto the continued flow of liquid therein to close said valve in the fluid pressure conduit.

11. In a liquid storage and delivery apparatus, the combination of a storage reservoir,

a measuring tank, a filling conduit connecting said reservoir With said tank, a fluid pressure conduit connected to said reservoir whereby fluid pressure may be rendered available to cause liquid to flow from said reservoir into said tank, a valve insaid fluid pressure conduit, a vent pipe leading from the top portion of said tank, a float valve adapted to close said vent pipe as the liquid flows into said tank, a flexible diaphragm closing the upper end of said tank, and means operable by the movement of said diaphragm to close said valve in the fluid pressure conduit.

' 12.7 In a liquid storage and delivery apparatus, the combination of a storage reservoir,

= a closed measuring tank, a filling conduit connecting said reservoir with said tank, a

vertically disposed vent pipe in tank and provided with a side inlet at its upper end, a float provided centrally with a guide member'engaging said vent pipe' and slidable thereon, and a valve secured to the upper end of said guide member and adapted when the float rises to close the side inlet of said vent pipe.

" 13. In a liquid storage and delivery apparatus', the combination of a storage reservoir a closed measuring tank, a filling conduit connecting said reservoir with said tank, the I end, a float provided centrally with a guide member engaging said vent pipe and slidable thereon, and a valve secured to the up- I per end of said guide member and adapted when the float rises to close theside inlet of said vent pipe. 7

JOHN M. MILLER.

' Witness:

FRANCIS J TOMASSON. 

